Whisky: Linkwood 33 Year (1988), The Whisky Jury

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 47.5%

Cask: Refill Hogshead

Age: 33 Years (Distilled March 1988, Bottled Oct. 2021)

Nose: Apples, champagne, crisp, clean, gummy bears, apple blossom, Korean pears, hints of fresh berries, heart of palm, fishcake, subtle oak and antiques.

Palate: Medium-bodied, rich, orchard fruits, quince, pastries, almond, tea, citrus, herbal toward the end.

Finish: Very long and slightly drying with quince, almond, and thyme.

Score: 8

Mental Image: Badger Burrow Jam Cellar

Narrative & Notes: The aroma left me in a wonderland of jellies; apple core jelly, champagne jelly, and pear jelly with crisp, clean, and dry notes of orchard fruits and white wine. Delicate apple blossoms and florals developed with hints of fresh raspberries and blueberries— perhaps suspended in jello. A slightly savory touch arrived with hearts of palm, sweet fish cakes, oak, and antiques. Medium-bodied and rich with a basket of fresh apples, quince, pear, assorted fruit jellies, scones, almond cookies, and strong tea. Quince lingered further with slices of lemon, thyme, and tarragon. The finish was very long and mildly drying with quince, crushed almonds, and thyme.

Fabulous. The aromas, flavors, and mouthfeel were crisp, clean, and surprisingly rich. Layers of flavors and individual notes worked in perfect harmony with no stray shots or sharp edges. Surprisingly, I thought this had a lot in common with another older Linkwood from SMWS that I panned a few years ago— yet everything was so well integrated and balanced on this whisky that I came away with a totally different conclusion. The wife opined that this would be perfect for sipping on while soaking in the bath.

Overall, excellent whisky and precisely what you want when you splurge for something this old. I am not too fond of orchard fruit notes, and I have never rated a Linkwood above average, but this was a proof of concept that I can, in fact, enjoy both of those things when they come together like this.